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Pan American Blues Radio Stories from Nashville
WSM Radio - The Birth of The Grand Ole Opry - DeFord Bailey "The Harmonica Wizard"

Produced by The Kitchen Sisters (Nikki Silva & Davia Nelson) with Laura Folger Mixed by Jim McKee at Earwax Productions, San Francisco

Deford DeFord Bailey, the "Harmonica Wizard," in 1926. Photo Courtey of David Morton and the DeFord Bailey estate

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    One of the first letters sent to Lost & Found Sound came from a listener who told us that no series about the sounds of the 20th century would be complete without the sound of the Pan American Train passing the WSM Radio tower in Nashville. The 10,000 watt station broadcast the sound live each day at 5:08pm - Nashvillians and listeners from all across the South and Midwest set their clocks by the sound.

    In searching out this sound, we were led to the remarkable story of Harmonica Wizard DeFord Bailey, the first black to perform and tour with WSM's Grand Ole Opry, whose signature song, Pan American Blues, inspired the naming of the show. DeFord's story, along with the story of WSM and its legendary Grand Ole Opry make up this program


    An Original Hatch Show Print commissioned by Lost & Found Sound Postcard

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    Copyright © 2000 The Kitchen Sisters